What’s the Best Way to Vet Contractors Before Hiring?

Question

Hey everyone,
For investors who regularly hire contractors:
What’s your process for checking reliability and quality?

Do you:

• Ask for project photos?
• Visit previous job sites?
• Request references?
• Test with small jobs first?

Ask for project photos?

Visit previous job sites?

Request references?

Test with small jobs first?

I’d like to make my contractor selection more reliable.
Any advice is welcome.

Caleb Brown · Answer

Previous jobs, addresses so you can look them up. Past references or referrals so you can call them. Majority have a current job going on, visit that. Have them provide a line by line scope of work, not a random number. Also see what they've done recently. If the GC is shotty or slow they often don't have recent jobs to highlight.

Kyle Vogeler · Answer

Ask for references and photos of previous work.

Verify their business licenses, etc.

Ask their crew size (especially for bigger jobs, small crews move slower).

Get 3-5 quotes. Use the other quotes to see if the contractor you will work with seems to be logical. is one timeline 1/2 the time of the other quotes? Why? Is one half the price? why? These should be RED FLAGS and should not necessarily be taken as accurate.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Check with the state Contr License Board. Most states have a website where you can enter their name or lic number and check the status. This will show any past complaints, and if the license is active and in good standing. Sure, look at pictures and call a couple of past customers, but be aware that they will never give you anything but the good reviews. You will never get the number for any old unhappy customers, right?

Ask about their paperwork...do they have a legit contract? What does their Scope Of Work consist of?

Brent Thomas · Answer

As a commercial GC, I provide all prospective clients with two lists. The first list is all active and past clients we have built for. The second list is descriptions of current projects and past projects.

This begins the relationship with complete transparency regarding our capabilities and client experiences. This also gives our clients a great sense of comfort knowing that they will be in good hands.

If your contractors are not able to provide you with this information,  it should be a hard pass.

Chris Seveney · Answer

go visit a project. If it is a scope like tile or flooring I have them also do a room before moving on to the next room to review quality of work.

Also, I have asked to go see their home, several in the past never finished projects in their own home and quality was shotty - that was an easy pass using them.